The following is the information submitted to the news media asking for their help to inform parents of the hazards of children developing arthritic finger deformities from excessive video gaming, computer use, and coloring during the ages their bone mass is soft and easily bend to the repetitive motion stresses.

Seven years ago, our research (prompted by our children and our own arthritic injuries) identified young children developing permanently bent/twisted arthritic fingers from too much video gaming, computers, and even coloring. These injuries happen because their small/soft bones are not strong enough to withstand the repetitive motion Kinetic Energy (KE) impact forces incurred during these processes, therefore their bones easily bend and twist (within weeks) and develop arthritic joints, and finger bending backward deformities.. (Each impact force pushes their bone mass into its plastic state….thus, inflicting permanent and accumulative physical injuries resulting in finger/hand injuries and functional losses). (Refer to Section 3 of our book “Our Silent Epidemic” devoted to children’s injuries (free downloads on our home page).

Until recently, I believed our seven years of communications with the manufactures, and leading politicians would result in implementing age restrictions to prevent children’s injuries during their soft bone ages. Unfortunately, not only did the manufacturers and politicians cooperatively and beneficially ignore providing any corrective actions but they also refused to inform parents, schools, and Child Day Care centers about this danger.

Though the video industry admitted their awareness of the children’s injuries (Microsoft-Lieberman meeting 11-14-07, Nintendo study 02), they continue to market their products without restrictions and encourage video gaming parties, competitions, etc. Over the past several wasted years, millions of children have unknowingly jointed the permanent injury list.

As shown on our web site miketomich.com, many children have crippling arthritic hands resembling physically abused 80 year-old hands. Any amount of deviation from straightness results in functional losses. Functional losses are present but not recognized in children because they do not conduct the stressful physical tasks required to earn wages at this age.

Parents fail to see their children’s injuries because the stiff/thick steering vehicles on today vehicles result in a strong KE impact to adult’s hands just as video gaming does to children’s soft hands. (Each move of the steering wheel results in KE impact/shock-load being transmitted through the soft tissue and skeletal system within “Two-Tenths” of a second. Both stiff steering and video gaming became popular in the mid 80’s with each inflicting similar arthritic injuries).

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Our study also identified the presence of a basic engineering principal called “Material Creep” (MC) which is present and hidden in the human skeletal system and soft body tissues. MC combined with the quick delivery of KE Impact/Shock-loading forces is the cause of physically induced arthritis and almost all musculoskeletal injuries in adults and children. Major health rewards will be realized with the acceptance of combined Medical and Engineering Disciplines relative to the performance and function of the human body. Our health issues are not all biological. A new chapter in science that exceeds Nicholas Kopernikus and Isaac Newton’s information is before you...enjoy it. (Adults; chronic back, neck, shoulder, hip, knee, elbow, wrist, ankle pain. Carpal tunnel, sciatica pain, depression, chronic fatigue, birth defects, autism, premature births, miscarriages and more).

Since we started our direct mailing to school districts in December 2009, we now have School Districts within the United States conducting their own verification of children’s injuries. Some Child Day Care facilities have started to take corrective actions by not allowing young children to color, and removing KE processes/instruments from their buildings. A State Child Day Care licensing agency has started the banning of video gaming. Some governors have asked their State Health Departments to investigate these issues. We have made additional contact with the CDC. U.S. Congressman Dale Kildee (Michigan) is trying to arrange a meeting with Secretary Kathleen Sebelius at our U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. We have physicians that support our information, and professors at U of M and Michigan State.

To prevent further physical injuries that will reduce our children’s quality of life as adults, we are asking if you would use your news agencies to help us warn the parents of these injuries. Though we are getting attention, it is going to be a slow, drawn-out process resulting in additional children suffering the consequences.

Please visit “Module 1” on our web site miketomich.com and click on the word newspapers for further information.